HANDBOOK FOR RESPONDING TO
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND ABUSE

PURPOSE OF THE HANDBOOK

Pg. 8 of the handbook

Domestic violence and abuse are a significant and destructive reality within our society. Abuse inflicts immediate and long-term harm to those who are its direct victims, those who choose to use abusive behaviours, and those who witness these behaviours. Families within the “communion of congregations gathered by God” are not immune. A church leader is often the first resource a person affected by abuse will turn to; being sought out for practical assistance as well as for spiritual guidance. When faced with such a request, the response by the leader – clergy or layperson – is critical.

Church leaders can play a critical role in addressing immediate safety concerns through accessing appropriate community resources and in affecting long-term, positive change in volatile abusive or domestic situations. By addressing abuse, the community of faith becomes a place of safety for all its members.

This document is intended as a resource for leaders in the Evangelical Covenant Churches of Canada (ECCC) regarding the issues of domestic violence and abuse. It seeks to be true to the authority of the scriptures and the edicts of the Canadian legal system: the two are not in tension.

“The dynamic life-shaping power of the word of God…is the motivation behind every act of compassion and justice through the life of our shared ministry…. Only the church that hears and responds to the word will be able to be a prophetic voice in [the] wilderness and bring healing to a confused and troubled world.”

The handbook contains useful and important information that can:

● Assist a leader to be prepared to respond to a disclosure of abuse – by a victim, an individual who has used abusive behaviour, and/or a witness,

● Assist a congregational leader to raise awareness within the community of faith,

● Assist a leader to prevent further abuse through the early detection of a person at risk,

● Provide avenues through which members of congregations and specialized resources within the larger community can work together to assist families affected by domestic violence and abuse.